If they aren't, Lee and Jay are going to have a lot to answer for. They've been at this quite a while and know what their SCCA Solo II customers need to conform to the rules.

 

OK...Mazdaspeeds are dyno'd.
Short answer is that they have 25% more damping force in each direction front and rear.
Front rebound is not quite 25% though.
I will compare graphs to stockers graphs(same dyno used to test both sets) once I receive the shocks/data back at my house. They are shipping now.
Should be a great street shock.
A LOT better than the stockers which are basically "noshocks" especially in the front..
Wondering about the Mazdaspeed front bar versus Racing Beat front bar versus stocker..We should have both aftermarket bars in a couple of weeks.
Already have the Racing Beat monster.
Probably get the Koni S/A'a too and do some dyno testing.
Feel free to send money to me for all the info! LOL!

FM

 

^^thanks for the updateD

 

Thanks, Mike. I'm a bit surprised it's only 25% stronger.

Please do post the graphs. If you do I'll buy you a beer or two at Packwood.

 

Great info... I am surprised they came in that much stiffer, I would have thought 10-15% for a "dealer/OE" part.

 

25%? Sweet! I wonder if the mazdaspeed 6 shocks are made by tokico...I know the springs are about 20% stiffer (mazdaspeed parts for the 6).

Oh wait nevermind, I'm in STX anyway, I'll just throw on coilovers and lose gracefully.

 

Im new to this shock thing. Im going to buy some shocks this spring and stay in B Stock. For you guys who are familiar with Koni what % stiffer than stock would you guess the Koni's will be? Will it be worth it to wait for the Koni's? Are the Mazdaspeeds adjustable?

 

Thanks for the research, I really think im gonna pick up a set of mazdaspeed shocks/springs in the spring. As i dont AutoX, i just have a few track days, so an awesome street shock would be amazing!!! Keep the numbers coming!!

 

I have to get Shelbi to scan the data and maybe overlap it so it is easier to read.
Maybe next week.
I have to get them on the car before Sunday to try them out with the Mazdapeed front bar.
Probably going to sell the Racing Beat front bar for cheap!
Too big IMO unless used with a rear bar.
The Mazdaspeeds are not adjustable.
I have no idea how the Koni's graphs would look.

FM

 

Ok...got the charts back.
Not as simple as earlier post.
If I am reading it correctly:
Rear rebound runs about 75% stiffer.
Rear compression is actually softer by 15% or so once 3 in/sec is hit but the same as stock before that speed.
Front rebound and compression is about 25% stiffer.
Not that simple....I should just have Shelbi scan the crap...
FM

 

nice info mike. thx. Cant wait for the rest.
I have the MS bars, I really wonder how much stiffer they are compared with stock, especially the rear...

 

Tryed out the MS front bar with all 4 MS shocks on Hoosiers.
Did not like the push the car had under power.
Course was slow though.
Back end was really planted. Even with zero rear toe.
Going to try out the stock bar with MS shocks next and see how it does.
Lots of the body motions were cured with the shocks.
Shelbi should post the graphs this week if she has time.
FM

 

do you think the car could have been understeering due to only having the front bar? this would upset the balance a little, especially when looking at understeer.

 

I would think so. Especially on a car with a pretty good camber curve like the RX-8.

 

We went and drove the car with MS front bar and MS front shocks along with stock rear shocks and the car was "nervous" in the rear and hard to predict what is was going to do but then we went and put the rear MS shocks on and that really planted the rear end.
The Hoosiers should of been fresh enough to get a good read on the car too and weather was good/heat was in tires etc.
We are going to try stock front bar with 4 MS shocks next and see how the car handles.
Shelbi said she really likes the car on the street now though.
Those MS shocks should of came stock on the car IMO.
I wasn't causing the push from driving style either.
Maybe the MS front bar with some front Koni S/A's...hard to say.
REALLY want to get some 710's on the thing to see what it will do.
Miata is taking most of the time now...
Will keep working on 8 though.
We already have 3 sets of rims/3 sway bars/3 sets of shocks.
Still need straight pipe/710's/ and I am going to cut up a set of stock shocks and mess with them.
FM